PAPAL VISIT SOUTH SUDAN: Joy and Excitement as Pope Francis is Received in South Sudan
Fr. Isaac Ojok
After completing successfully his trip in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday morning, the Holy Father Pope Francis has arrived in Juba the capital city of South Sudan in Ecumenical pilgrimage to the war-torn country.
The arrival of Pope Francis to South Sudan is part of a six-day Ecumenical trip to African continent that began on 31st January 2023 in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the search for peace among the people where it was concluded with fare well ceremony before leaving for South Sudan.
The Pope, in the company of the Arch Bishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland Iain Greenshields, was received at Juba International Airport by the President of the Republic of South Sudan His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit and other country’s dignitaries.
The arrival of the Pope in South Sudan using the Italian Airways was received with great jubilation and excitement by thousands of the South Sudanese at Juba International Airport-JIA
Members of the South Sudan National Army mounted the parade to welcome His Holiness the Pope, accompanied by the singing of the country’s and Vatican Anthems respectively
Meanwhile the amazing young children, men and women lined up along the street in singing, waving and expressing their joy as they welcome the Holy Father a sign of hospitality of the people of the land to the Pope who is making his first Papal visit to South Sudan, the ecumenical trip that shall go down in history.
Coming of South Sudanese in thousands to receive the Pope shows that they are optimistic that the visit of the Pope to their country will bear fruit that will translate in to unity love, forgiveness, peaceful coexistence and patriotism amongst them.
From Juba International Airport, the Pope was led in a huge procession, with tight security to the presidential palace where he is scheduled to meet the President of the Republic of South Sudan, the vice Presidents according to the program.
The Apostolic journey of the Pope to South Sudan on 3rd February brought together people from different ethnic groups in the country uniting for peace, a common factor to be shared among the South Sudanese.
The Ecumenical trip of His Holiness Pope Francis being guided by the theme; May All be reconciled in Christ, is expected to restore lasting peace in world’s youngest sovereign nation torn apart by war that has claimed many lives and forced millions of people away from their land.
Recently, Religious leaders in South Sudan under their umbrella body of South Sudanese Council of Churches- SSCC have expressed that the coming of Pope Francis to the country will initiate and Shape dialogue, reconciliation, spirit of brotherhood and lasting peace in the nation.
The visit of the Pope to South Sudan reminds oneself about the promise the Pope made in 2019 to travel to the country when he hosted the country’s leader President Salva Kiir and his then deputy Riek Machar at the Vatican and asked them to observe cease fire agreed upon for good of the people.
While in South Sudan, the Pope after meeting the President of the Republic of South Sudan His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, he will also hold meetings with the vice Presidents, Civil Authorities, Civil Society, members of the diplomatic corps, internally displaced persons, priests, Consecrated persons, Seminarians respectively before concluding with the Holy Mass on Sunday 5th February 2023.
End
